Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'speciality'

English Word: speciality

Key Russian Translations:

• специальность /spʲɪt͡sʲɪˈalʲnəsʲtʲ/ - [Formal, Singular]

Frequency: Medium (commonly used in educational, professional, and everyday contexts in Russian-speaking countries).

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, as it involves understanding noun declensions and common vocabulary in intermediate Russian learners per CEFR standards).

Pronunciation (Russian):

специальность: /spʲɪt͡sʲɪˈalʲnəsʲtʲ/ (The stress is on the fourth syllable; the 'щ' sound is a soft, palatalized 'sh'.)

Note on специальность: Be cautious with the soft consonants; it's often pronounced more fluidly in casual speech. Variations may occur in dialects.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: A particular area of knowledge, skill, or field of study (e.g., in education or profession).

Translation(s) & Context:

• специальность - Used in formal contexts like resumes, academic discussions, or job descriptions to refer to one's professional expertise.

Usage Examples:

• Моя специальность — инженерия.

  My speciality is engineering. (This example shows the word in a simple declarative sentence, highlighting professional identity.)

• Он выбрал специальность в области IT.

  He chose a speciality in the field of IT. (Demonstrates use in educational decision-making contexts.)

• В университете я изучаю специальность, связанную с медициной.

  At university, I am studying a speciality related to medicine. (Illustrates the word in a complex sentence with prepositional phrases.)

• Её специальность позволяет ей работать в разных странах.

  Her speciality allows her to work in different countries. (Shows usage in a sentence implying broader implications.)

Meaning 2: A special feature, characteristic, or unique aspect of something.

Translation(s) & Context:

• специальность - Often used informally to describe distinctive traits, such as in product descriptions or personal attributes.

Usage Examples:

• Специальность этого ресторана — традиционные блюда.

  The speciality of this restaurant is traditional dishes. (This highlights the word in a commercial or descriptive context.)

• Его специальность в искусстве — абстрактная живопись.

  His speciality in art is abstract painting. (Demonstrates possessive use with personal subjects.)

• Эта компания известна своей специальностью в инновациях.

  This company is known for its speciality in innovations. (Shows the word in a sentence emphasizing uniqueness.)

Russian Forms/Inflections:

специальность is a feminine noun in the third declension. It follows standard Russian noun inflection patterns with changes based on case and number.

Note: The word is invariant in terms of gender but changes regularly across cases. No irregular forms are common.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: профессия (profession - more general, often interchangeable in career contexts), специализация (specialization - implies a narrower focus)
• Антонимы: общая дисциплина (general discipline - not a single word, but conveys the opposite of specificity)

Related Phrases:

• По специальности — By speciality (Used in contexts like "He works by speciality in engineering.")
• Специальность по выбору — Elective speciality (Refers to optional fields in education.)
• Основная специальность — Main speciality (Implies a primary area of expertise.)

Usage Notes:

специальность directly corresponds to the English "speciality" in professional or academic contexts but is more commonly used in Russian for fields of study. It is neutral in tone and can be formal or informal depending on the setting. When choosing between translations like специальность and специализация, opt for the former for broader applications and the latter for more focused expertise. Grammatically, always ensure it agrees with the case and number in sentences, as Russian requires declension.

• Avoid confusing it with "специалист" (specialist, a person), which is a related but distinct noun.
• In spoken Russian, it's often shortened in casual conversation, e.g., in dialects.

Common Errors:

English learners often misuse the genitive case, saying "Я имею специальность" instead of the correct "Моя специальность — ..." (My speciality is...). Error: "Я имею специальность инженерии" (incorrect, as it should be inflected). Correct: "Я имею специальность в инженерии." Explanation: Russian requires proper case agreement; using the prepositional case here clarifies the field.

Another common mistake is overusing it without context, leading to vague sentences. For example, saying "Специальность хорошая" without specifying what it is.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, especially in the former Soviet Union, "специальность" is deeply tied to the education system, where students select a specific field early in university, reflecting a structured approach to career paths. This contrasts with more flexible systems in English-speaking countries, emphasizing specialization from a young age.

Related Concepts:

• профессия
• специализация
• квалификация